The 2026-27 Budget: In-Home Supportive Services

Mar 18, 2026 - The state receives an enhanced federal reimbursement rate for many IHSS recipients who receive services as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act expansion (90  percent federal reimbursement rate) and the Community First Choice Option waiver (56  percent federal reimbursement rate).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5166

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - The Lanterman Act Grants Access to Services According to Each Consumer ’s Choices. The Lanterman Act guides the availability and delivery of services in DDS. The act states: “An array of services and supports should be established which is sufficiently complete to meet the needs and choices of each person with developmental disabilities, regardless of age or
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

How Have Past Stock Market Downturns Affected Income Tax Revenue? [EconTax Blog]

Mar 9, 2026 - This Time Might Be Different, but It Is Not Safe to Bet on It.   As our office warned last November, it now appears time to take seriously the notion that the stock market has become overheated. While there is a chance that this time is different and no such downturn is forthcoming, the risk appears strong enough that we have incorporated it into the state 's revenue outlook.  
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/852

How Have Past Stock Market Downturns Affected Income Tax Revenue? [EconTax Blog]

Mar 9, 2026 - This Time Might Be Different, but It Is Not Safe to Bet on It.   As our office warned last November, it now appears time to take seriously the notion that the stock market has become overheated. While there is a chance that this time is different and no such downturn is forthcoming, the risk appears strong enough that we have incorporated it into the state 's revenue outlook.  
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/852

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - Governor’s Policy Choices Affecting UIS Population UIS ‑Related Proposals Come Amid a Challenging Fiscal Backdrop, but Some Fiscal Effects Rem ain Unclear. The proposals to extend the H.R. 1 requirements to adults with UIS and to transition newly UIS groups to restricted ‑scope coverage are policy choices.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146

The 2026-27 Budget: Office of Emergency Services Next Generation 911 System

Feb 27, 2026 - It is unclear if OES ’s choices are consistent with the Legislature ’s preferences if faced with the same set of options and trade ‑ offs —particularly since OES has not provided information on the trade ‑offs and costs of the alternatives it considered, nor sought formal legislative input (such as proposing the change through trailer bill language) as it moves forward with its plans.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5145

The 2026-27 Budget: CDTFA’s Cannabis and Tobacco Programs

Feb 23, 2026 - Despite “Workload ” Framing, Level of Enforcement Is a Policy Choice. For programs to work as expected, departments must complete many tasks. For example, when taxpayers file returns, CDTFA must process every return.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5132

The 2026-27 Budget: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Feb 23, 2026 - Given that the notification came late in the fiscal year, the Legislature had little choice but to provide the reappropriations. (These prior ‑year funds were unspent due to savings associated with various factors, including vacant positions, population reductions, and prison facility  deactivations.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137

The 2026-27 Budget: California Student Aid Commission

Feb 17, 2026 - Given the MCS program has significant overlap with the Cal Grant program, is less targeted to lower ‑income students, and is more complex to convey and administer than other financial aid programs, reducing MCS award coverage could be among the least disruptive choices the Legislature  faces.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5127

The 2026-27 Budget: Framework for Approaching the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture Budget

Feb 10, 2026 - Given the difficult choices it faces in crafting this year ’s budget, the Legislature may wish to reassess whether recent augmentations and previous agreements continue to reflect its highest priorities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116